Posted on: Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Kid-voting group takes to the sign-waving tradition

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Some of Hawai'i's youth hope to encourage adults to get out and vote next week with two events today.

Early this morning, about 80 volunteers from Kids Voting Hawai'i and American Savings Bank will join children to wave signs at the Capitol to raise awareness of the importance of voting. The event will begin at 6 a.m. and wind up at about 8.

"We want to encourage the motorists as they're going on their way to school to vote early and to vote," said Lyla Berg, president of Kids Voting Hawai'i.

Adults also will have a chance to support Kids Voting and their children by visiting various restaurants today. A portion of the proceeds from Dine Out for Democracy will go to the Kids Voting program.

The money will be used to assist teachers and provide them with material on the importance of voting.

"Businesses have really stepped up to be corporate champions for democracy and they're willing to put their money where their mouths are," Berg said.

The participating restaurants on O'ahu are: Dave & Busters; Murphy's Bar & Grill; Plaza Restaurant, Plaza Hotel; Columbia Inn, Wai'alae; Sam Choy's, Diamond Head; The Shack in Hawai'i Kai and Mililani; Willoughby's Restaurant, Airport Holiday Inn; Matters of Taste, Gentry Pacific Center; Dot's in Wahiawa; Jameson's by the Sea, Hale'iwa; Pizza Bob's, Hale'iwa; and Cafe Notte, Hale'iwa.

Neighbor Island participants are: Maui Brews, Lahaina; Hali'imaile General Store, Upcountry; Joe's Bar & Grill, Wailea; Zelos Beach House, Hanalei, Kaua'i; Sushi Blues, Hanalei; Chuck's Steak House, Princeville Center; Bourbon Street Cafe, Princeville Center; Polynesian Cafe, Ching Young Village; and Kilauea Lodge on the Big Island.

Kids Voting Hawaii is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that teaches students the importance of voting and good citizenship. All 225,000 school-age children are eligible to take part in the program, affiliated with Kids Voting USA.

For the first time, Hawai'i youngsters in the Kids Voting program are casting ballots via the Internet. Of the 41 states participating in the program, only Hawai'i students will use computers to vote in the general election.

As of yesterday, about 100,000 students had registered to vote, Berg said. Results of the voting will be announced immediately after the adult polls close Nov. 5.

In addition to title sponsor American Savings, the Rotary clubs of Hawai'i are major supporters of Kids Voting, Berg said.